Assistant Undersecretary for Systems and Business Development at the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources Dr. Ahmed Al-Abdullah said that the local labor market has not been affected by seasonal visas. He emphasized that there are no challenges in this area, and efforts are currently underway to automate seasonal and temporary visas to serve all beneficiaries.
Al-Abdullah made these remarks during the launch of the third edition of the Digital Transformation Forum for the Ministry of Human Resources in Jeddah, under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah, and in the presence of Prince Saud bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, along with several officials and tech and digital transformation enthusiasts.
Before the start of the sessions, the Ministry’s Undersecretary for Digital Transformation, Eng. Faisal Bakhashwain, highlighted that Saudi Arabia has made unprecedented achievements in digital transformation, which positioned the country high on global digital competitiveness indices.
He added: “We have exceeded our targets for 2030, aiming to place Saudi Arabia among the top 10 countries in the world in digital transformation, a goal made possible through the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, who have played a key role in advancing government transformation and the digital economy.”
Al-Abdullah, for his part, told Asharq Al-Awsat that specific criteria and regulations apply to establishments seeking seasonal visas, particularly those operating during the Hajj season. These visas are granted based on business requirements submitted through the “Qiwa” platform. He also noted that the Ministry successfully countered 1.2 million cyberattacks in September.
The Ministry collaborates with over 128 countries on professional verification and assessment to raise the competency of workers in the private sector, he said, adding that 400 offices have been set up for international domestic labor recruitment.
“When it comes to labor market violations, we intervene to prevent any irregularities by working with relevant authorities to correct and encourage compliance,” he stressed.
The Ministry has introduced 12 models using emerging technologies for Saudization decisions, which previously took up to six months but now can be completed in just two working days using artificial intelligence, Al-Abdullah remarked.
A new billing system is also set to launch in the coming days, along with robotic programs to boost support and transparency for families eligible for social security, with data being collected from over 19 sources.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister for Shared Services Ismail Al-Ghamdi noted that the forum aligns with the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to keep pace with rapid technological advancements and achieve the objectives of Vision 2030 in digital transformation.
Over 1,000 services have been automated, leading to the launch of numerous digital platforms that have significantly improved the beneficiary experience and satisfaction, he revealed.
